Lin Yuan first picked up the rune stone, turning it over and over in his hands. Then, he opened the system panel.
【Unknown energy residue detected. Consume Ability Points for trace analysis?】
“Analyze.”
【Consuming 50 Ability Points. Analyzing...】
【Analysis complete. This rune stone contains a tracking rune unique to the “Blood Eye Cult.” Primary functions include target marking, energy transmission, and remote monitoring.】
【The creator of this rune stone is approximately at Tier 2, Level 5.】
【Based on the energy residue characteristics, the user of this rune stone has appeared within a three-kilometer radius of this stone within the past twenty-four hours.】
Lin Yuan’s hand froze in mid-air.
A three-kilometer radius. This meant that members of the Blood Eye Cult were currently in Donghai City.
“Blood Eye Cult,” he repeated the name in a low voice.
The system provided no further information, but the word “cult” alone was enough to highlight the gravity of the situation.
In a world of spiritual qi recovery, cults were one of humanity’s two greatest threats, right alongside monsters.
They deluded ability users, raised monsters, and even conducted experiments on living humans.
Major cities had zero tolerance for such organizations and suppressed them ruthlessly.
However, a small place like Donghai City shouldn't have attracted a cult’s attention under normal circumstances.
Unless there was something—or someone—worth the risk.
S-rank ice ability. Ice Phoenix form.
Lin Yuan put away the rune stone, his gaze darkening.
The Blood Eye Cult’s target was indeed Su Qingyue.
They had already locked onto her ability fluctuations; the next step would be to strike at the right moment.
And the most suitable moment would be when Su Qingyue was alone.
The Su Manor was heavily guarded. No matter how arrogant the cultists were, they wouldn't dare launch a frontal assault. Therefore, they would wait for Su Qingyue to leave the manor—likely three days from now, when she came to the Old City District to find him.
A cold smirk played on Lin Yuan’s lips.
If he were in the Blood Eye Cult, he would choose that time as well.
The target would be injured and unrecovered, the security would be at its weakest, and she would be in a place with poor defenses like the Old City District.
The timing, location, and circumstances would be perfect.
The only problem was...
They didn't know that someone was already waiting for them there.
Immediately after, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged on the floor of his room and picked up a low-level Bone Tempering Pill.
Three days. That was enough time to push his lightning ability up another level and perhaps try to reach the threshold of Ten Rounds as One.
As for the Blood Eye Cult?
He placed a peak grade Bone Tempering Pill into his mouth and closed his eyes.
A Tier 2, Level 5 rune master.
In a place like Donghai City, such a person would indeed be considered a figure of note.
But to him—they were nothing more than an experience pack.
The medicinal power dissolved in his body, and his bones began to heat up.
In the small shack in the Old City District, lightning flickered silently, completely hidden by the heavy curtains.
...
That night, the lights in the small shack stayed on until dawn.
Lin Yuan sat on the floor, swallowing the peak grade Bone Tempering Pills one after another.
When the peak grade medicinal power dissolved, it felt like a scalding river surging from his dantian to his limbs, seeping into every crevice of his bones.
With his foundation of Nine Rounds of Bone Tempering, even the fierce power of these pills was no longer enough to cause him unbearable pain.
The golden bone patterns on the surface of his skeleton became clearer under the washing of the medicinal power.
【Bone Tempering: 9 Rounds (72% Progress)】
Still not enough.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes, glanced at the sky outside that was beginning to brighten, and swallowed the final pill.
The medicinal power surged again.
The golden bone patterns spread to his shoulder blades, and he could feel a subtle change occurring in his skeletal structure.
【Bone Tempering: 9 Rounds (89% Progress)】
He was still a bit short of reaching Ten Rounds as One.
Lin Yuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and rose from the bed.
It wasn't that the medicinal power was insufficient; rather, the threshold between nine and ten rounds seemed to be something that couldn't be crossed by pills alone.
“One step at a time.”
The morning light shone through the window, falling on his bare torso.
His eight-pack abs weren't overly bulky, but every muscle was tight against his bones, without a trace of excess fat.
Lin Yuan pulled on a black training suit, leaned his spear back against the corner, and pushed the door open.
In the courtyard, Grandma Wang was taking down the clothes she had hung out to dry yesterday. When she saw him come out, the old woman’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Xiao Yuan! That girl yesterday—”
“Grandma,” Lin Yuan interrupted her just in time, “is the porridge ready?”
“It is, it is!” Grandma Wang put down the clothes and hurried toward the kitchen. “Century egg and pork, your favorite. I woke up before dawn to simmer it. Just wait there.”
Lin Yuan watched the old woman’s hunched back, his lips curling into an unconscious smile.
After finishing the porridge, he headed out.
He had two things to do today.
First, go to the recruitment center for Magic City Academy.
Second, go to the Su Manor.
It was time to settle the matter of the engagement once and for all.
Adjacent to the Donghai City Ability User Association was a three-story building that the four top academies had temporarily rented as a recruitment center.
Their signboards were lined up in a row—red, blue, green, and black—looking like four distinct banners from a distance.
By the time Lin Yuan arrived, a large crowd had already gathered at the entrance.
Most were there just to see the spectacle; it was the first time in Donghai City’s history that all four top academies had set up recruitment points simultaneously.
A few young people who had awakened decent abilities gathered their courage to go inside for consultations, though they emerged either beaming with joy or looking utterly dejected.
Just as Lin Yuan reached the door, he heard a heated argument coming from inside.
“Can you people from Magic City Academy show some face? I saw that kid first!”
Lei Meng’s booming voice could be heard clearly even through three walls.
“What do you mean you saw him first? Did he agree to anything? Besides, your National Martial Arts dorms don't even have air conditioning. How are students supposed to survive the summer?”
Lin Yuan didn't recognize this voice.
It was a woman’s voice, sounding somewhat lazy with a slight upward lilt at the end, as if she had just woken up.
“We at National Martial Arts emphasize tempering one’s will! Things like air conditioning—”
“Enough, enough with the tempering. We all know how much your academy likes to suffer. Regardless, we’re taking Lin Yuan for Magic City,” the woman’s voice interrupted him impatiently.
Lin Yuan pushed the door open and entered.
The scene inside was much as he had imagined.
Four tables, four banners, four teachers.
Qin Ruolan sat upright, a stack of documents spread before her and a half-finished cup of tea by her side. Her entire aura matched Kyoto Academy’s banner—upright, rigorous, and meticulous.
Ye Lin sat behind the Shencity Academy table with a straight back and hands folded on the desk.
The top button of her military uniform was fastened, and there was nothing on the table before her, not even a glass of water.
Lei Meng stood in front of the National Martial Arts table, unable to sit still.
And behind the Magic City Academy table sat someone Lin Yuan had never seen before.
Rate on N.U.
